Be careful how you deck your
halls!
The holiday season
is generally a time of family togetherness in which even our pets
participate. One's thoughts generally are far from thoughts
of injury; however, one must be aware of some important seasonal
hazards in order to insure a happy holiday season.
Ribbons &
Tinsel
These are of special interest to
playful cats and kittens who see these materials as toys (or prey)
to be chased, pounced upon, chewed or swallowed. While
chasing and pouncing pose no health threats, chewing and swallowing
do, as these strings or "linear foreign bodies" can catch in the GI
tract, leading to bunching of intestine as the body tries in vain
to move the string or ribbon through. This is a
life-threatening condition requiring surgery for correction.
Supervise animals who play with string closely.
Electric Light
Cords
These are also tempting to cats
who like to play with string as well as to puppies who are teething
and interested in chewing. If a pet bites through an
electrical cord, it could result in a severe burn to the tonque
which causes the pet's lung to fill with fluid, causing respiratory
distress. This is also an emergency requiring immediate
veterinary attention.
